Nuclear Theater: Flashes
Get caught up on some posts you might have missed. Yamas!
I’m not here to comment on recent events. You all know what’s been going on. And when Vladimir Putin starts talking about World War III, well, this humble little site seems more relevant than ever.
I recently returned from a two-week vacation in Greece. It’s a gorgeous, life-affirming place. But of course, I couldn’t enjoy myself without thinking about the role it played in the Cold War. Thus is the curse I have cast upon myself.
After being devastated by the Nazis during World War II, the country became one of the first battlegrounds of the new postwar reality, with Greek Communists facing off against the established pro-Western government. (The Soviet Union largely stayed out of the conflict, leaving it to new Eastern Bloc nations such as Yugoslavia.) After suffering as many as half a million deaths at the hands of Axis, the country endured the loss of another 160,000 during the three-year civil war.
Ultimately, the success of the Western powers at repelling the Communists led directly to the so-called Truman Doctrine, which called for U.S. assistance when freedom-seeking people came under threat of minority or outside influence (such as the U.S.S.R). This was the rationale for America becoming entangled in civil wars in Korea and Vietnam.
Last month, we examined the pressures that befell Australia as both an ally and a bystander during the Cold War. Greece was subject to even greater political convulsions – including military rule -- that took decades to iron out.
But the islands are lovely.
Back next week. Here are some posts you might have missed:
60,000 of those half million deaths in WW2 were Jews. The prewar population of Jews was 72,000. Total Greek population was 7.3M.